In the late 19th century Taormina was a forgotten medieval hill town, sitting on a rocky outcrop of Mount Tauro, dominating the twin bays on the Ionian Sea far below and gazing across to the enormous sweep of Mount Etna which not so much dominates as fills the horizon. But then the village was 'discovered' by visitors from the north, who were beguiled by its unarguable beauty and superb location ... and the rest is history.
Notable early visitors included Goethe during the late 1700s. During the 19th century German photographer Wilhelm von Gloeden came here to take his pastoral studies of nude Sicilian boys. And during the early 1900s Taormina became something of a colony for expat artists and writers. DH Lawrence liked the place so much he lived here from 1920-23. Taormina today is a long way from that medieval hill village, but is still a beguilingly pretty town, with its Greek Theatre and the funicular railway diving to the sea below.
Main sights include the Teatro Greco, one of Sicily's most spectacular Classical relics, especially with the sun sinking into the Ionian Sea far below. The Torre d'Orlogio, or clock tower, dates from the twelfth century and sits on the Piazza IX Aprile, with spectacular views across to Etna. The cable car swoops down from Taormina to the most popular beach, Lido Mazzaro, in a minute or two. Take a boat trip from here past the headland at Capo Sant'Andrea to the Isola Bella. Other beaches include Spisone, Giardini and Letojanni. The Duomo (cathedral) sits on the Piazza del Duomo, while Chiesa Santa Caterina sits at the highest point of Corso Umberto I (Taormina's main, pedestrianised street), a mix of stark exterior and lavish baroque interior. Check out the shops on Corso Umberto I. A fair share of tack and tat to be sure, but under the blazing Sicilian sun and with a glass or two of prosecco onboard it's easy to be seduced by the ceramic lemons and donkeys, and Taormina does do ornately painted plates like nowhere else. You'll find terrific restaurants too, with fish and shellfish the main event.
To the left you'll find a selection of Taormina hotels, just to whet your appetite.
See also Taormina hotels (full listings) and our Taormina hotel map.
